West Nile Virus Not A Problem, At Least For Now

November 15, 2000|By ALISON FREEHLING Daily Press

A case of the West Nile virus in a local crow doesn't necessarily mean next year's mosquitoes will be more likely to carry the deadly virus, but local health officials are on guard for the possibility.

"What it means to me is the disease is here now," said Joe Kertesz, a biologist with the city of Hampton. "It might not be a problem in our mosquitoes now, but we're expecting involvement with mosquitoes next summer."

West Nile virus spreads to humans through mosquitoes that bite infected birds. There is little immediate danger of that happening because the insects aren't active during the cool winter months.

Over the winter, health officials and mosquito control workers say they'll talk strategy for next spring and summer, when mosquitoes start biting people again. Options could include more spraying, public awareness campaigns about mosquito-borne diseases and improved drainage programs to get rid of standing water where the insects breed.

On Monday, the Hampton Health District confirmed a case of West Nile virus in a dead crow found at the Hampton Yacht Club. The crow was the seventh bird found in Virginia with the disease. No cases have been found in humans, mosquitoes or horses.

West Nile virus can cause flu-like symptoms, headaches, muscle aches and rashes. Most people don't get very sick, but a small number suffer disorientation, muscle fatigue and swelling in the brain.

The virus killed seven people in New York City last year.

Local health officials started tracking birds more than a year ago to check for the virus and weren't surprised to find it on the Peninsula.

The Virginia Department of Health believes migratory birds - they're not sure exactly what kind - have carried the virus to Virginia while passing through the state.

Daniel Warren, director of the Peninsula Health District, said residents shouldn't panic. While "it could well be" that more mosquitoes will carry the virus next year, Warren said, "We have very good mosquito control here. Plus, being run over by a truck is more likely than dying of West Nile."

The spread of the virus also is very unpredictable, said David Gaines, public health entomologist with the Virginia Department of Health. In other states, some areas that had cases of the virus last year didn't have any this year.

The virus can die off because it doesn't survive more than a few days in infected birds. Mosquitoes that pick it up also might not survive the winter, Gaines said.

"Certainly we have our guard up, but we can't say for sure what will happen," Gaines said. "It's more likely we'll have a problem than if we had never found this crow at all, but it's not a certainty."

Not all local health departments spray for mosquitoes - Isle of Wight County is an example - but officials say it's too early to predict whether there will be widespread changes. Depending on the weather, mosquito bites generally will start to be a problem in May or June, said Rick Hall, who runs the mosquito control program in James City County.

"We'll need to do some more planning before then," Hall said, "but it's far too early to guess what will change or how much of a problem this will be."

Alison Freehling can be reached at 247-4789 or by e-mail at afreehling@dailypress.com

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Mosquitoes are mostly gone for the winter, but there are steps you can take now to reduce the number of mosquitoes next spring and summer. These steps also will help guard against the spread of the West Nile virus:

* Clean your yard. Get rid of anything that could hold standing water, where mosquitoes breed. Examples are bottles, tires, buckets and birdbaths.

* Clean out your gutters. Clogged gutters collect water.

* Fill holes and depressions, and drain ditches around your home.

* Make sure your window screens and doors are in good condition. That will keep mosquitoes out of your home when they start biting.

* Start to teach children about guarding themselves against mosquito bites, such as wearing long sleeves after dusk when mosquitoes are most prevalent.

* Help your local health department track for the West Nile virus. If you see a dead crow or jay that looks like it has died within the past 24 hours, call your local health department.